Stockholm square closed after clashes

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Sergels torg in central Stockholm was sealed off on Sunday afternoon as rival demonstrators clashed.

A demonstration began on the square at around midday to protest against the regime in Iran. At around 2pm a further demonstration began directed against Israel and the two groups clashed in a war of words.

"We have had to seal off the square and have to keep the groups apart, there is a tense atmosphere and a lot of verbal abuse being hurled at each other," Kjell Lindgren at Stockholm police told news agency TT.

"We have redirected traffic heading towards the square as well, there are too many people milling about," he said.

Two people were detained by police and several more were removed after throwing objects at the demonstrators.

"There are around a hundred demonstrators. How many counter-demonstrators standing around the square is impossible to tell as many curious passers-by have also stopped," Lindgren said.

According to media reports the anti-Israel demonstration was continuing on the square at 4.30pm on Sunday.